28
INTHESPOTLIGHT
28
LIFE BEYOND NOW
BEYONDBLUE
It is NOT ALWAYS EASY to raise SUICIDE in
CONVERSATION or to ask someone if they are
thinking about it, but don’t let that stop you.
E
very day, more than
eight Australians
take their lives.
These deaths are
devastating for the families
and friends left behind.
“Starting a simple
conversation around this
complex issue could be the
first step in averting a crisis
and encouraging a loved
one, friend or colleague to
reconnect and find hope and
support,” said beyondblue
CEO Georgie Harman.
The Australian Bureau of
Statistics revealed that 3027
people took their own lives in
2015 and three out of four of
those people were men. Men
aged 40 to 54 were at
greatest risk, representing
almost a third of male
suicides that year.
“You don’t have to be a
mental health professional to
be able to help someone
through a suicidal crisis,”
said Georgie.
“It’s about empathy.
When someone is suicidal,
they have lost hope. They
don’t see their value or that
they are loved.
“If you can distract
someone who is having
suicidal thoughts, even for a
minute, it may de-escalate
the situation and help them
find the strength to regain
control.”
Among beyondblue’s
suicide prevention resources
is BeyondNow—a free
smartphone app and website
that teaches users how to
create a suicide safety plan.
The app lets the user,
ideally supported by a health
professional and trusted
friend or family member,
create their suicide safety
plan and keep it close for
reference when they
experience suicidal thoughts.
Having a safety plan on a
mobile phone means it can
be taken anywhere that
person goes—in a bag or
pocket—and can be
accessed any time and
shared easily with others.
The app was developed
by beyondblue and Monash
University, with funding from
the Movember Foundation,
and is free to download from
the App Store or Google
Play store. n
www.beyondblue.org.au/
beyond-now
IF YOU ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT SOMEONE OR
FEEL THEY ARE AT
IMMEDIATE RISK OF
SUICIDE, CALL TRIPLE
000. BEYONDBLUE’S
SUPPORT LINE IS OPEN
24/7 ON 1300 22 46 36
OR CONTACT THE
ALL-HOURS DEFENCE
FAMILY HELPLINE ON
1800 624 608 FOR ADVICE
AND REFERRAL.
“YOU DON’T HAVE
TO BE A MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL TO
BE ABLE TO HELP
SOMEONE THROUGH A
SUICIDAL CRISIS.”
BeyondNow is
a free smartphone
app and website.
Photo used with
permission.